Certain n-substituted octadecadienoic acid amides used to reduce cholesteral levels

ABSTRACT

Method of reducing elevated level of cholesterol in blood by administering an N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide is provided, as well as compositions containing the N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide.

United States Patent [191 Seki et al.

[451 Apr. 17, 1973 CERTAIN N-SUBSTITUTED OCTADECADIENOIC ACID AlVIIDES USED TO REDUCE CHOLESTERAL LEVELS [75] Inventors: Takashi Seki; Chiharu Saito, both of I Toyonaka; Katsuyuki Nishinomiya; Keisuke Matsuka, Toyonaka; Yoshio Suzuki, Amagasaki; Akira Kobayashi, Ikeda, all of Japan [73] Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.,

Osaka, Japan 22 Filed: July 13,1970

21 Appl.No.: 54,648

Toki,

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 478,758, Aug. 10, I965, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 342,682, Feb. 5, I964, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..424/324, 424/244, 424/248,

424/267, 424/274, 424/320 [51 Int. Cl. ..A6lk 27/00 [58] Field of Search ..424/320, 324;

[56] References Cited Chemical Abstracts 37: 37339 (1943). Chemical Abstracts 57: 1609 C (1962). Merck Index 8th ed. 1968 pg. 621.

Primary Examiner-Albert T. Meyers Assistant ExaminerLeonard Schenkman AttorneyWenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT Method of reducing elevated level of cholesterol in blood by administering an N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide is provided, as well as compositions containing the N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide.

3 Claims, No Drawings CERTAIN N-SUBSTITUTED OCTADECADIENOIC ACID AMIDES USED TO REDUCE CHOLESTERAL LEVELS This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 478,758 filed Aug. 10, 1965, which now abandoned in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 342,682, filed Feb. 5, 1964, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the elevated cholesterol level in the blood. More particularly it relates to a method for reducing the elevated cholesterol level in the blood by orally administering an N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide. The invention also pertains to a novel bloodcholesterol reducing composition containing an N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide.

Atherosclerosis is one of the adult diseases which has not been provided with a satisfactory solution or treatment. A number of experimental and clinical facts have shown that the reduction of the elevated blood cholesterol level is one of the most important keys in treating or preventing atherosclerosis.

Unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid or phenylalkylcarboxylic acid amide have been known as blood-chlosterol reducing agents. As regards their effectiveness, however, it is not very high, and is also uncertain and indefinite.

The present inventors have found that the elevated blood cholesterol level is efficaciously reduced by administering, preferably per os, an Nsubstituted octadecadienoic acid amide, and that its cholesterol reducing activity is superior to that of the known cholesterol reducing agents.

The amides suitable for use in the method of the present invention include several known compounds. However, they are disclosed as being useful antimicrobial agents, flame retardants or acyl-group identification agents. The amides employed in the present invention have never been recommended or suggested for therapeutical use in reducing the cholesterol level in the blood.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a method for reducing the elevated cholesterol level in the blood. Another object is to provide novel compositions which are useful for reducing the elevated cholesterol level in the blood. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

In order to accomplish these objects, the present invention provides a method for reducing the elevated cholesterol level in the blood in human patients having such elevated level, which comprises administering, preferably per os, to said patients 0.1 g. to g. per day of an N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide of the formula where R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, lower alkoxy-substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl, lower alkyl-substituted phenyl, trifluoromethyl-substituted phenyl, lower alkoxy-substituted phenyl, halogen-substituted phenyl,

halogenand lower alkyl-substituted phenyl, benzyl, lower alkyl-substituted benzyl, a-lower alkyl-substituted benzyl, hydroxy-substituted benzyl or lower alkoxy-substituted benzyl having one to 36 carbon atoms, preferably one to l 1 carbon atoms, R is hydrogen or the same radicals as recited with respect to R and R is a bivalent alkylene, oxygen-containing alkylene or alkenylene radical having one to seven carbon atoms.

The present invention further provides a novel composition containing, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, an N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide of the formula wherein R is cycloalkyl, lower alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl, hydroxycycloalkyl, lower alkoxy-substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl, lower alkyl-substituted phenyl, lower alkoxy-substituted phenyl, halogen-substituted phenyl, trifluoromethyl-substituted phenyl, halogenand lower alkyl-substituted phenyl, lower alkyl-substituted benzyl, a-lower alkyl-substituted benzyl, hydroxy-substituted benzyl or lower alkoxysubstituted benzyl having one to 36 carbon atoms, preferably one to l l carbon atoms, and R is hdyrogen or the same radicals as recited with respect to R The N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amides of the composition of the present invention are all novel compounds.

The processes for preparing the amides employed in the present invention naturally vary, for example, depending upon the nature of R R and R and origin of the acid moiety of the amides. Owing to their great number it is not possible to describe all of the processes in detail, which is in any case unnecessary since they are all based on conventional processes of organic chemistry. However, details of a typical suitable process for preparing the amides are presented below.

The N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amides used in the present invention may be produced by reacting an octadecadienoic acid of the formula C H COOH with an amine of the formula wherein R,, R and R are as defined above, in the presence of absence of such dehydrating agents as a disubstituted carbodiimide compound, p-toluenesulfonic acid or p-toluene-sulfonyl chloride in an aqueous or or ganic solvent. Examples of the di-substituted carbodiimide compound include dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, diisopropylcarbodiimide and diphenylcarbodiimide. Examples of the organic solvent include benzene, toluene, n-hexane petroleum ether, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform and ethylacetate. The reaction requires a relatively low temperature, e.g., room temperature, when it is carried out in the presence of a dehydrating agent, but requires a considerably high temperature, e.g., 200 C, when it is carried out in the absence of a dehydrating agent.

The octadecadienoic acid to be employed in the present invention may be of any origin. Usually linoleic acid originating from any of various natural fats and oils, specifically vegetable oils, and essentially composed of octadeca-9,l 2-dienoic acid of the formula CH (CH CH=CH-CH -CH=CH- (CH -COOH is the most preferable material for the invention, although any other isomeride of octadecadienoic acid may also be employed. Comparatively pure linoleic acid can be obtained, for example, by the purification of safflower oil fatty acid by such methods as low temperature recrystallization method, distillation method, urea metho d, salt-recrystallization method, etc.

The octadecadienoic acid employed can be any of linoleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, trans-linoleic acid and conjugated trans-linoleic acid.

Typical amines of the formula wherein R R and R are as defined above, to be employed in the present invention are as follows. The present inventors have also proved that any other amines can be used without any trouble in carrying out the present invention so far as they are primary or secondary amines. Examples of suitable amines are monoor dilower alkylamines such as monoor dimethylamine, monoor diethylamine, monoor di-nor i-propylamine, and monoor di-n-, ior t-butylamine; monoor di-higher alkylamines such as monoor didodecylamine, monoor dipalmitylamine and monoor distearylamine; cycloalkylamines or their derivatives, such as cyclopentylamine, cyclohexylamine, cycloheptylamine, N-methyl-, N-ethyl-, N-nor i-propyl or N-n, ior t-butylcyclopentylamine, N- methylor N-ethyl-N-n(or i)-propylor N-n-,ior t-butylcyclohexylamine, N-methyl-, N-ethyl, N-nor ipropyl or N-n-,ior t-butylcycloheptylamine, N- cyclohexylor N-phenyl-N-cyclohexylamine; lower alkylcycloalkylamines wherein the lower alkyl radical( s) is(are) e.g., one or more of methyl, ethyl, nor i-propyl or n-, ior t-butyl substituted in at least one of the 2, 3 and 4 positions; hydroxycycloalkylamines wherein at least one hydroxy radical is substituted in at least one of the 2, 3 and 4 positions; cycloalkylamines substituted by one or more lower alkyl and hydroxy radicals in at least one of the 2, 3 and 4 positions; and lower alkoxycycloalkylamines wherein the lower alkoxy radical(s) is(are), e.g.; one or more of methoxy, ethoxy, nor ipropoxy, or n-, ior t-butoxy radical substituted in at least one of the 2, 3 and 4 positions.

Aromatic amines are exemplified by aniline, diphenylamine, benzylamine, lower alkylaniline wherein the lower alkyl radical(s) is is(are), e.g., one or more of methyl, ethyl, nor i-propyl and n-,ior t-butyl radicals substituted in at least one of the ortho, meta andpara positions; N-methylor N-ethylanilines; lower alkoxyaniline wherein the lower alkoxy radical(s) is(are), e.g., one or more of methoxy, ethoxy, nor i-propoxy, or n-, ior t-butoxy substituted in at least one of the ortho, meta and para positions; halogenoaniline wherein the halogen atoms(s) is(are), e.g., one or more of fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine substituted in at least one of the ortho, meta and para positions; trifluoromethylaniline wherein at least one trifluoromethyl radical is substituted in at least one of the ortho, meta and para positions; aniline substituted by one or more of lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy or trifluoromethyl radicals, such as 2,4,6-trimethylaniline and the fluorotoludines; dibenzylamine; a-lower alkylbenzylamines such as a-methylbenzylamine, a-ethylbenzylamine, a-nor i-propylbenzylamine, a-n-,ior tbutylbenzylamine and the like; lower alkylbenzylamines wherein the lower alkyl group is, e.g., methyl, ethyl, nor i-propyl, or n-,ior t-butyl; lower alkoxybenzylamines wherein the lower alkoxy group is, e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, nor i-propoxy, or n-, ior t-butoxy substituted in at least one of the ortho, meta and para positions; hydroxybenzylamine wherein at least one hydroxy group is substituted in at least one of the ortho, meta and para positions; and benzylamines substituted by one or more of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy and hydroxy radicals.

Heterocyclic amines are exemplified by pyrroles, pyrrolidine, piperidine, hexamethyleneimine and morpholine.

The N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amides ac cording to the present invention can also be employed to prevent the deposition of cholesterol and fat to the liver, which occurs in animals fed on a cholesterol diet. It seems that the amide compounds improve the suppressed lipid-metabolism function of the liver. This effectiveness is also favorable, in view of the fact tha the metabolism of lipids is carried out mainly by the liver. Such effectiveness has never been observed for linoleic acid.

The extremely low toxicities of the present N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amides are also an aspect of the present invention.

The cholesterol-lowering agent used in this invention may be orally administered. Usually the amount orally administered is 0.1 g. 20 g. per day, preferably 0.5 g. 5 g. per day, and the administration may be continued for l 5 months, usually for about 3 months. The cholesterol-lowering agent may be employed in any suitable form which is conventional for oral administration. Thus, it may be encased in a capsule, in liquid form, in tablet form, or in powder form. In preparing the agents in these various forms, the active compound may be used as such or mixed with or impregnated in a suitable solid carrier, e.g., cellulose acetate or it may be mixed with a liquid carrier such as an edible oil; e.g., safflower oil, and preferably those containing linoleic acid. It is also possible to use a mixture of two or more of the N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amides of the invention. it may also be used as mixed with linoleic acid.

The content of the N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide of the composition of the present invention varies depending upon the kind of carrier used, and the content is adjusted so that the amide is administered to a patient within the indicated dosage range.

In the present invention, cycloalkylamides or a-(C C alkylbenzylamides are preferable with respect to the cholesterol reducing effect, and cyclohexyllinoleamide or a-methylbenzyllinoleamide are most preferred.

The cholesterol reducing activities of the N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amides used in the present invention are shown in the following test example. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto.

TEST EXAMPLE Cholesterol-reducing test in mice The effectiveness of each indicated compound was tested in mice fed on a specifical diet which was supplemented with cholesterol and bile acids. The composition of the specifical diet is shown as follows:

Casein 20.0 Sucrose 62.3 Hydrogenated coconut oil 10.0 Agar 2.0 Salt mixture (U.S.P.) 4.0 Cod liver oil 0.2 Cholesterol 1.0 Ox bile extract 0.5

To each kilogram of diet the following vitamins were added:

The blood cholesterol level of the mice had been elevated to 3 to 6 times the normal level. Each test compound as shown in Table 1 was well mixed in the specifical diet in an amount of 0.2 percent or 1 percent by weight and fed to the test animals for 8 to 12 days. At each dose level, or mice were used and the total cholesterol levels of the serum were measured at the end of the experimental period. One group of mice, in each set of experiments, was given the specifical diet without the test compound and served as control. The means value of the total cholesterol level of the serum of the treated group was expressed as a per cent of that of the control group (cholesterol level index).

TABLE 1 Blood cholesterol Agents (physical level indices properties) 1% administ. 0.2% administ. None (control) 100 Linoleic acid 74 78 101 104 C, l-1;,,CONH-C,H,, (hp. 138-143C/0.02mmHg 70' 1.4687) 72 0 CnlInCONlI-CII Clla (b p. l64l 69C/0.02mmHg 71) 1.4720) 67 85 CnHarCONllCllzCll UllzClHCllJ):

UnllJlUUN CllzCll(Cll3)2 C17II31CONII (hp. 180181C/0.02mmHg 1 1.4890) 47 (h p. 200202C/0.02mmHg 1.4871

(Illa (lnIIarCONH (b.p. 180183C/0.03mml 1g "in 1.4844) 65 C H CONII -CH b 181-184C/0.03mmHg m, 1 so) 47 UnllarCONII (b.p. 203-206Cl0.06mmH 1,, 1.4853) CnHmC O NH-CHa (b.p. 204209C/0.06mml-lg 1,, 1.5027

7E310 ONE-CH2 OCH;

(b.p. l90203C/0.03mmHg 1 1.4952) 1 1113 0 ONIICH2 trans (1 113 0 ONH trans 011E3 0 ONH eonj. CnHagC ONH conj. (1 11310 O-N 1 CnllmCO Acute toxicites of some of the amides used in the present invention are listed in the following Table 2.

TABLE 2 LD; values (g/kg) mice Agents oral intraperitoneal CH3 C 1H3 CONIICH\ 50 l.O

Clla

C11Ha1CONH 50 9.0

C11Ha1CONII 50 10.5

linoleic acid As is seen from the above Table, no mortal case and no significant toxic symptoms were observed even in an abundant dose (per os) such as 0.5 g per 10 g., namely 50 g./kg. of body weight. Also, any of the significant toxic symptoms, as well as any mortal case, was not observed when N-cyclohexylor N-2-methylphenyllinoleamide in 1 percent, 0.5 percent or 0.2 percent amounts in the diet was administered to mice every day for 3 weeks. The appetite was normal and the digestive function was unchanged. When the internal organs were inspected by dissection, there was no appreciable change. This result was the same as that observed in tests on N-2-methylphenyllinoleamide when used in rats.

In the above Table, the symbol indicates greater than and the symbol indicates less than.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for reducing the elevated cholesterol level in the blood of patients having such elevated level, which comprises orally administering to said patient 0.1 g to 20 g per day of an N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide of the formula R4 tadecadienoic acid moiety is selected from the group consisting of linoleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid,

Rs trans-linoleic acid and conjugated trans-linoleic acid.

I 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the N- wherein R is a-(C -CJ-alkylbenzyl and R is 5 substituted octadecadienoic acid amid is N-(ahydrogen. methylbenzyl)-linoleamide.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oc- Patent No.

Inventor(s) Dated April 17 19-73 TAKASHI SEKI ET AL.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the;heading, after the information designated as [631",

insert the following:

February 6 February 6,

August August- August August Signed and (SEAL) Attest:

RUTH C. MASON Attesting Officer- Foreign Application Priority Data 196.3 Japan 6314 4 1963 Japan 6315 1964 Japan 46998 1964 Japan 49074 1964 Japan 49120 Japan 49121 Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks ORM P0-1 050 (10-69) 

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the octadecadienoic acid moiety is selected from the group consisting of linoleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, trans-linoleic acid and conjugated trans-linoleic acid.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the N-substituted octadecadienoic acid amide is N-( Alpha -methylbenzyl)-linoleamide. 